Hypnotic Metaphor and Emotional Connections

Hypnotic Metaphor and Emotional Connections

Listen closely to how people speak, what their interests are and how they represent their world to themselves. Have you ever worked with people that talk in:

• War terms (We needed to dig ourselves out of the trenches, storm the battlements and take no prisoners)?
• Football terms (It’s a game of two halves; we need to focus on getting possession, maintaining a good offense and getting that ball into the back of the net)?
• Jargon terms that are specific to an industry, profession or role?

By using people’s favourite metaphorical landscapes you have a direct connection to the way they represent the world to themselves. This means you have the ability to heighten the emotional context for them. I used to work for a manager who was a keen cook. Whenever I want her to really pay attention to a project or idea I would explain about, “this new recipe,” and how, “we could cook this into something everyone will want to come and taste,” and ask her if she would like me to, “put the menu together to see if we want to host this diner party.”
Would this approach work with a whole audience? To some degree it would work completely, all you need to do is get everyone onboard with the metaphor to start with. I once saw a motivational speaker whose claim to fame was that he had represented his country at the Olympic Games.
The presentation I saw him deliver was a well pitched story of his journey to becoming an Olympic athlete, through all the trials and tribulations, overcoming adversity and reaping the rewards. He used everything he had to draw the whole audience in to the story and he had us all emotionally connected to his presentation right from the start.

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